Automatic safety seat clamp

ABSTRACT

An automatic safety seat clamp adapted to be moved in front of an occupant of a vehicle seat, to restrain him from being thrown forwardly during an accident. The safety clamp is automatically raised from a low retracted position in response to the occupant&#39;&#39;s body pressure which actuates a switch on the seat backing. The clamp encircles the occupant in response to foot pedal action. The clamp is retracted by motor power in response to another foot pedal action.

United States Patent Robert Servadio 3721 Parkview Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa.15213 804,423

Mar. 5, 1969 May 11, 1971 lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented AUTOMATICSAFETY SEAT CLAMP 11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 297/390 Int. Cl B60r 21/10, A47c 31/00 Field of Search 297/384,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,873,122 2/1959 Peras PrimaryExaminer-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-James C. MitchellAttorney-William J. Ruano ABSTRACT: An automatic safety seat clampadapted to moved in front of an occupant of a vehicle seat, to restrainhim from being thrown forwardly during an accident. The safety clamp isautomatically raised from a low retracted position in response to theoccupants body pressure which actuates a switch on the seat backing. Theclamp encircles the occupant in response to foot pedal action. The clampis retracted by motor power in response to another foot pedal action.

PATENTEMH 1 Ian 3578.382

sum 1 OF 5 INVENTOR. ROBERT SERVADIO BY a TORNEY PATENTEUHAYI 1 m13578.382

' SHEET 2 0F 5 INVENTOR. ROBERT SERVADIO BY Z 4160mm PATENTEU m1 1 ISIISHEET 3 [IF 5 INVENTOR. ROBERT SERVADIO BY TORNEY PATENTED mm 1 I97!INVENTOR. ROBERT SERVADIO VA /6M ATTORNEY AUTOMATIC SAFETY SEAT. CLAMPThis invention pertains to an automatic safety seat clamp that hasautomatic restraining elements which can prevent an occupant of avehicle seat from being thrown forwardly, during an accident, againstrigid portions of the vehicle.

The safety clamp would be especially suitable for providing protectionto an operator of a delivery truck who must make frequent stops to makedeliveries and for pickups of mail, milk and the like.

The occupant cannot easily circumvent the protective elements since theoccupants body triggers the restraining elements to force them to movetowards partially protective positions when the occupant takes hisposition in the seat. When the restraining elements are in partiallyprotective positions, they are a hindrance or obstruction to theoccupant thus he is forced to further move the restraining elements.

An occupant such as an operator of a truck that makes frequent stops,tends to refrain from using conventional safety belts because it wouldtake considerable time and effort to couple and uncouple a safety beltmany times a day. The seat clamp would also be useful for the safety ofa passenger since he could not easily circumvent the protectiverestraining elements.

An object of the present invention is to provide novel, automatic clampmeans responsive to seating movement by the occupant to apply arestrainer about his midsection, driven by operation of a releasingmechanism by the operator.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an automatic,reversible motor driven means for moving restrainer clamps verticallyupwardly in response to his leaning against the back of his seat andwhich is quickly releasable in response to his operation of a mechanicalunlatching means, whereby such operation may be performed very rapidlywithout the use of the occupants hands.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from a study ofthe following description, taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view showing the front and side of avehicle seat having an automatic safety seat clamp embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective elevational view showing the rear and the otherside of the seat;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing protective elements inretracted positions;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view showing details ofthe mechanism for closing and opening restrainers;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to a portion of FIG. 4,but showing parts in different positions;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical circuit for thesafety seat clamp;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view showing a security lock bar for use withthe mechanism shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3; and,

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show avehicle seat 11 along with restrainer clamp arms .12 and 13, andrestrainer seat belts 14 and 15. The restrainers are positioned so as torestrain an occupant of the seat 11 from being thrown forwardly or asideby momentum forces during a collision.

The occupant may be an operator or a passenger of a vehicle. Forpurposes of illustration, the seat 11 shown is similar to the seat foran operator of a delivery truck.

FIG. 3 shows the restrainers in fully retracted positions. Phantomoutlined positions 12a and 13a shown in FIG. 1, indicate lateralretracted positions of the arms 12 and 13. The arms 12 and 13 arepreferably made of rigid tubular construction. The belts l4 and may bemade of nylon fabric or the like, so they can stretch slightly tocushion the occupant.

The rear ends of belts 14 and 15 are fastened to the seat 11. Theforward end of belt 14 is fastened to the arm 12. The forward end of thebelt 15 is fastened to the arm 13.

The seat 11 has a back portion 11a. The seat 11 is mounted on bars 16aand 16b. A strong tube 17 supports the bars 16a and 16b (FIG. 1). Aflange 18 is welded to the bottom of the tube 17. The flange 18 isfastened to the vehicles floor structure 19. Soft cushioning or padding21 may be fastened to the surfaces of the arms 12 and 13 that confrontthe occupant of the seat 11. The seat 11 is shown as being made of wood,but it may be made of metal or plastic. A cushion (not shown) may bemounted on the seat 11.

Arms 12 and 13 may be made wholly of strong metal tubing such asaluminum, steel or alloys thereof. The arms may be made more useful byusing a solid round rod 22 (FIG. 2) to connect each tube to a shaft 27,as shown in detail in FIG. 3. Each tube is connected to a rod 22 with apin 23 (FIG. 2). Each pin 23 may be mounted on a tube with a clevis 24that has a spring to force the pin 23 into engagement with the rod 22.The rod 22 may have a series of holes to which the pin 23 may beselectively engaged to allow the arms to be adjusted outwardly. The pin23 has a handle that can be pressured to retract the pin from the roof22. The pin 23 can be retracted to allow quick emergency removal of thearm when the mechanism for retracting the arms is deformed during acollision, thereby preventing the occupant from being trapped.

A horizontal shaft 25 is mounted on the rear of the seat 11 with a pairof plates 26 to serve also as a seat hinge. Each end of the shaft 25 hasa transverse hole to which an L-shaped shaft 27 is pivotally engaged. Akey 28 at the end of shaft 25 has a nonthreaded end that projectsloosely into a keyway like groove that encircles a shaft 27, therebyallowing the shafts 27 to pivot while maintaining their relativepositions with the shaft 25.

Arms 12 and 13 are keyed to slightly flattened portions of the shafts 27with setscrews 29 or the like, the setscrews 29 allow the arms 12 and 13to be adjusted vertically. The arms 12 and 13 may be adjustablypositioned so their rear ends are as low as possible, so the padding 21bears against the midsection below the occupants hip bones, therebyeliminating the need for the belts 14 and 15.

The arms 12 and 13 may be positioned high as shown in FIG. 1, so as toconfront the midsection at the occupants chest, thereby restraining theupper portion of the occupants torso from pivoting downwardly during arapid deceleration caused by a collision accident, thus eliminating theneed of a shoulder harness. When the arms 12 and 13 are positioned highto confront the chest, the belts 14 and 15 can restrain the lowerportion of the torso from objectionably moving forward on the seat 11.When the arms 12 and 13 are positioned high, as shown in FIG. 1, theupper portions of the shafts 27 can bend slightly to cushion theoccupant when he is forced against the arms. Spring steel may be used sothat any give would not result in a permanent bend.

The clamp arms 12 and 13 may be adjusted so the occupants body bearsalmost wholly against belts 14 and 15, whereby the arms 12 and 13 act aspositioners to position the belts in protective positions.

A pair of U-shaped limit bars 30 are fastened to the seat 11 and toplates 26. Each shaft 27 holds a coiled spring 31 (FIG. I), that tendsto force the shaft to pivot so the shafts lower portion 27a pivotsoutwardly and bears against the inner edge of the adjacent bar 30.Springs 31 are motors that help to force the arms 12 and 13 into lateralretracted positions when the arms are free to move laterally. The shafts27 are forced to pivot laterally about their axes to couple the arm 12to the arm 13 and they are forced to pivot oppositely to retract thearms to the positions and 13a.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the details of the mechanism that causes the shafts27 to pivot laterally. A strong tube 35 (FIG. 2) is welded to a pair ofplates 36 (FIG. 2). The plates 36 are fastened to the seat 11. A pair ofround shafts 37 has a halfround portion to allow the shafts to slidablyengage each other. Each shaft 37 holds a pin 38 (FIG. 4) which ispressfitted or threaded to it. The end portions of the tube 35 areslotted to allow pins in the shafts 37 to move laterally.

. 27a (FIG. 4). A slotted fastener 39 (FIG. 4) is press-fitted orthreaded to each shaft 37. A pair of links 40 are pivotally connected tothe fasteners 39 and to a pair of bellcranks 44. The bellcranks 44 arepivotally mounted on a pair of fasteners 45. The fasteners 45 are weldedto the tube 17. A pair of links 46 are pivotally connected to thebellcranks 44 and to a main link 47. The link 47 has a clevis shapedlower portion that engages a slidable pin 48. The pin 48 slidablyengages a pair of slots 17a (FIG. 2) in the tube 17. A pin 48 has a headand a nut, each of which has a groove to anchor a lower end of one oftwo springs 50. The upper ends of the springs 50 are hooked into thefasteners 45. The springs 50 are the motors that supply the major forcesthat retract the arms 12 and 13 when the arms are free to movelaterally.

A rocker control pedal bar 51 is pivotally engaged with the pin 48(FIGS. 1 and 2). The pedal 51 is pivotally and slidably engaged with aclevis 55. The clevis 55 is welded to the tube 17. The pedal '1 slidablyengages slots 17b and 17c in the tube 17.

The occupant depresses the front portion of the pedal 51 to cause thearms 12 and 13 to close so they engage each other with plug and sockettype engagement. When the pedal 51 is depressed, it engages a notch 17d(FIG. 4) in the tube 17, to prevent the pedal from rising after theoccupant removes his foot from the pedaL-A curved bar 56 (FIG. 1) forcesthe front of the pedal 51 aside into the notch 17d. The bar 56 isslidably mounted on a plate 57. The plate 57 is welded to the tube 17. Apair of pins 58 slidably engage the plate 57 and threadably engage thebar 56. A pair of springs 59 pressure the bar 56.

A release control pedal 61 is pivotally mounted on the tube 17 with apin 62. The pedal 61 is depressed by the occupants foot to the positionshown in FIG. 6, 'to cause it to push the pedal bar 51 out of the notch17d, to enable the springs 50 to raise the pin 48 and the linkageconnected to it, so as to spread the arms 12 and 13. A return spring 63forces the pedal 61 to return after the occupant releases the pressureon the pedal.

The depressing of the pedal 61 also causes the arms 12 and 13 to pivotdownwardly from the raised positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to thelowered positions shown in FIG. 3, as will be described in detailhereinafter.

An electrical wiring plug 66 is interconnected to the vehicle'selectrical power source. A reversible motor 67 is pivotally mounted to aclevis 68 (FIG. 2). The clevis 68 is welded to the tube 17. The motor 67has a long threaded shaft 67a that engages a threaded block 69. Theblock 69 has pins 70 and 71 pressed into it. The pins 70 and 71pivotally engage a pair of bars 72. The bars 72 are welded to the shaft25 (FIG. 3). The motor 67 raises and lowers the arms 12 and 13 inresponse to switches 73 and 74.

When the occupant positions himself in the seat 11, his back depresses athin horizontally bowed band 77 (FIG. 1) that is mounted with screwsonto the seat back 11a. The band 77 has slotted holes to allow at leastone end to slide and to allow the band to flatten to an extent from thepressure of the occupanta back against it. When the band 77 flattens toa predetermined extent, it depresses an actuating member of a switch 73,(see FIG. 7). The switch 73 closes an electrical circuit that activatesthe motor 67 causing the motor shaft 67a to rotate and force the block69 downwardly from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown inFIG. 2, thereby causing the shaft 25 to pivot and raise the anns 12 and13.

A circuit breaker support 78 (FIG. 1) is mounted on the motor 67. Alower circuit breaker 79 and an upper circuit breaker 80 (FIG. 2) aremounted on the support 78.

When the motor 67 causes the threaded block 69 (FIG. 2) to movedownwardly close to its lower position, the pin 71 engages and opens thelower circuit breaker 79, causing the motor 67 to stop.

The pedal 51 has a delayed action dashpot depressor 81 (FIG. 1) attachedto it. When the occupant depresses the release pedal 61 and causes thefront portion of the pedal 51 to pivot upwardly, the dashpot depressor81 is forced against a plunger of a switch 74. The switch 74 is mountedon the tube 17. The dashpot depressor 81 causes the plunger of theswitch 74 to close a circuit in the switch, thereby activating the motor67 causing the shaft 67a to rotate in an opposite direction, causing theblock 69 to rise, and the arms 12 and 13 to move downwardly. When thepin 71 (FIGS. 2 and 7) reaches the upper circuit breaker 80, it breaksthe circuit causing the motor 67 to stop. After the motor 67 hasstopped, the upper end of the depressor 81 shrinks downwardly as airbleeding action takes place, thus opening the circuit of switch 74.

The circuit breakers 79 and are adjustably positioned on the support 78to suit the preferred limits of the vertical movements of anns 12 and13.

All the above action takes place without the operator ever having to usehis hands, which is the basic idea for the present safety clamp. Suchaction can take place while the vehicle is moving or is stopped,depending upon the operators desires, therefore it saves considerabletime of the operator.

When the arms 12v and 13 are in the raised but laterally retractedpositions 12a and 13a, they would tend to obstruct the movement of theoccupants arms. Thus the occupants will depress the pedal 51 to causethe arms 12 and 13 to pivot close to his body where they would nothinder his arm movements.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a modification having a security lock bar 85,positioned in front of the tube 35, on the bottom of the seat 11. Thebar 85 is an angle shape, that is fastened to the seat 11 with screws86. The bar 85 may be welded to the tube 35 to make its mounting to theseat stronger. Each, end of the bar 85 is recessed so the shaft portions27a can bear down against it if there is failure of the powertransmitting parts connecting the motor 67 with the shafts 27 while thearms 12 and 13 are in protective positions, or while the arms are beingpivoted laterally into protective positions. The bar 85 allows the powertransmitting parts connecting the motor 67 and the shafts 27 to be juststrong enough to raise and lower the arms 12 and 13 since the thrust ofthe occupant against the arms 12 and 13 would be diverted against thebar 85.

As a modification of the invention, the electric motor, when actuated bythe switch located on the seat, may cause the restraining means to notonly pivot upwardly from the retracted position below the seat, but itcould also cause the restrainer means to completely encircle, ratherthan partially encircle, the occupant. Conversely, to free the occupant,operation of the pedal could not only cause lateral retraction, butdownward retraction as well to the position below the seat in responseto operation of the electric motor. In short, each of the entireoperations of clamping the restraining means and unclamping it may beelectric motor operated if so desired.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a highly efficient automaticdevice for quickly and easily attaching or applying and retractingrestraining elements which serve in the same manner as safety seat beltsin automotive vehicles and the like; furthermore, I have provided amotor driven mechanism for accomplishing the application and retractingof said restraining elements in a quick and secure manner without thenecessity of the use of the operators hands; but by the mere seating ofthe occupant and his depression of a pedal, whereby use of the safetymechanism will be greatly encouraged even in cases of mail delivery men,milk men and the like who make very frequent stops, therefore who mustapply and remove the restraining elements numerous times per hour.

While I have illustrated and described a single specific embodiment ofmy invention, it will be understood that this is by way of illustrationonly and that various changes and modifications may be made within thescope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a seat in a vehicle, a pair of restrainer means,said pair of restrainer means substantially encircling a midportion ofthe body of an occupant of said seat, said restrainer means includingstiff arm portions, support means mounted on rear portions of said seatfor supporting said stiff arm portions, said support means includingpivotal means-to allow said stiff arm portions to be pivotedsubstantially laterally' to the seat, positioning means to hold saidstiff arm portions in protective positions substantially encircling said'occupant, and lateral retracting means for retracting said stiff armportions to lateral retracted positions to allow the occupant to removehimself from said pair of restrainer means.

2. Apparatusas recited in claim 1 wherein each of said restrainer meansincludes a belt that substantially spans from one end to another of thecorresponding stiff arm portion of the restrainer means,

3, Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said belt engages the seatand corresponding stiff arm portion so that a substantial portion ofsaid belt bears below the hip bone of said occupant.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 together with control means forreleasing said positioning means.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said pivotal means includesvertical retraction means to effect downward retraction of said pair ofrestrainer means from said lateral retracted positions.

6 Apparatus as recited in claim I, together with means for adjusting thelength of said stiff arm portions to fit about occupants havingdifficult body sites.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said lateral retracting meansincludes spring means responsive to movement of said control means.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 5 together with motor means foreffecting said downward retraction.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8 together with a switch located onsaid seat and wherein said motor means causes said pair of restrainermeans to pivot upwardly from low retracted positions to said lateralretracted positions in response to pressure of said occupants bodyagainst said switch as the result of seating of said occupant.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 9 together with a pedal control forlaterally retracting said stiff arm portions and moving them downwardlybelow the seat.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 together with motor means forretracting said stiff arm portions to enable the occupant to be freed ofsaid restrainer means.

1. In combination with a seat in a vehicle, a pair of restrainer means,said pair of restrainer means substantially encircling a midportion ofthe body of an occupant of said seat, said restrainer means includingstiff arm portions, support means mounted on rear portions of said seatfor supporting said stiff arm portions, said support means includingpivotal means to allow said stiff arm portions to be pivotedsubstantially laterally to the seat, positioning means to hold saidstiff arm portions in protective positions substantially encircling saidoccupant, and lateral retracting means for retracting said stiff armportions to lateral retracted positions to allow the occupant to removehimself from said pair of restrainer means.
 2. Apparatus as recited inclaim 1 wherein each of said restrainer means includes a belt thatsubstantially spans from one end to another of the corresponding stiffarm portion of the restrainer means.
 3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2wherein said belt engages the seat and corresponding stiff arm portionso that a substantial portion of said belt bears below the hip bone ofsaid occupant.
 4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 together with controlmeans for releasing said positioning means.
 5. Apparatus as recited inclaim 1 wherein said pivotal means includes vertical retraction means toeffect downward retraction of said pair of restrainer means from saidlateral retracted positions. 6 Apparatus as recited in claim 1, togetherwith means for adjusting the length of said stiff arm portions to fitabout occupants having difficult body sizes.
 7. Apparatus as recited inclaim 4 wherein said lateral retracting means includes spring meansresponsive to movement of said control means.
 8. Apparatus as recited inclaim 5 together with motor means for effecting said downwardretraction.
 9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8 together with a switchlocated on said seat and wherein said motor means causes said pair ofrestrainer means to pivot upwardly from low retracted positions to saidlateral retracted positions in response to pressure of said occupant''sbody against said switch as the result of seating of said occupant. 10.Apparatus as recited in claim 9 together with a pedal control forlaterally retracting said stiff arm portions and moving them downwardlybelow the seat.
 11. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 together with motormeans for retracting said stiff arm portions to enable the occupant tobe freed of said restrainer means.